Growing up and being treated as an adult is a universal desire of adolescent children, however when it actually comes to maturation, many children shy away from the fact. Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” chronicles the experiences that young Connie has with growing up too fast. Connie’s rapid maturation is due to a mixture of self-esteem issues, the desire for attention of older boys, and peer pressure from friends. Coming of Age Too Early: Pubertal Influences on Girls’ Vulnerability to Psychological Distress, written by Xiaojia Ge, Rand D. Conger, and Glen H. Elder Jr. explores some similar situations and topics experienced by Connie and through scientific studies explains what may be going on in Connie’s
…show more content…
However, her completely new personality around her friends is not necessarily a positive thing. Peer pressure is almost a requirement in adolescence, seeing as no one wants to be judged by their peers. Ge, Conger, and Elder explain: “Because early maturing girls place particular emphasis on their own popularity and appearance in their contacts, their tightened vulnerability during entry into adolescence is significantly associated with peer pressures exerted by older males and their circle of friends” (Ge, Conger, Elder). Connie is in a vulnerable state where everything she does is watched and judged by her friends and peers. Because of this, she has to put on a front that is made purely of traits that people will accept. Connie and her friends go to the mall, because that is where the older boys hang out, and they want to get the attention from them. Connie is always focused on how she looks, always looking in mirrors and judging what other people are doing as well. She is so preoccupied with herself that she fails to understand what is going on around her, as well as the situations that she gets herself …show more content…
Arnold tells her: “Yes, I’m your lover. You don’t know what that is but you will” (Oates 413). Arnold acknowledges her youth, telling her that she does not know what a lover is. He goes on to say: “I’ll tell you how it is, I’m always nice at first, the first time. I’ll hold you so tight you wont think you have to try and get away or pretend anything because you’ll know you can’t. And I’ll come inside you where it’s all secret and you’ll give in to me and you’ll love me-” (Oates 413). Connie starts yelling at Arnold, calling him crazy and telling him to shut up. Connie is obviously extremely uncomfortable with Arnold Friend being there and talking about sex, however when it came to just being with boys, she was completely comfortable: “...Her mind slipped over to thoughts of the boy she had been with the night before and how nice he had been, how sweet it always as, not the way someone like June would suppose but sweet, gentle, the way it was in movies and promised in songs” (Oates 407). Connie reminisces about the wonderful times that she had with other boys, but when it came to Arnold, Connie’s emotions are purely negative. The pressure of sex that Arnold is putting on Connie makes her uncomfortable, and Ge, Conger, and Elder explain this by saying: “These pressures (sexual) create social stresses that they (adolescents)
However, her completely new personality around her friends is not necessarily a positive thing. Peer pressure is almost a requirement in adolescence, seeing as no one wants to be judged by their peers. Ge, Conger, and Elder explain: “Because early maturing girls place particular emphasis on their own popularity and appearance in their contacts, their tightened vulnerability during entry into adolescence is significantly associated with peer pressures exerted by older males and their circle of friends” (Ge, Conger, Elder). Connie is in a vulnerable state where everything she does is watched and judged by her friends and peers. Because of this, she has to put on a front that is made purely of traits that people will accept. Connie and her friends go to the mall, because that is where the older boys hang out, and they want to get the attention from them. Connie is always focused on how she looks, always looking in mirrors and judging what other people are doing as well. She is so preoccupied with herself that she fails to understand what is going on around her, as well as the situations that she gets herself …show more content…
Arnold tells her: “Yes, I’m your lover. You don’t know what that is but you will” (Oates 413). Arnold acknowledges her youth, telling her that she does not know what a lover is. He goes on to say: “I’ll tell you how it is, I’m always nice at first, the first time. I’ll hold you so tight you wont think you have to try and get away or pretend anything because you’ll know you can’t. And I’ll come inside you where it’s all secret and you’ll give in to me and you’ll love me-” (Oates 413). Connie starts yelling at Arnold, calling him crazy and telling him to shut up. Connie is obviously extremely uncomfortable with Arnold Friend being there and talking about sex, however when it came to just being with boys, she was completely comfortable: “...Her mind slipped over to thoughts of the boy she had been with the night before and how nice he had been, how sweet it always as, not the way someone like June would suppose but sweet, gentle, the way it was in movies and promised in songs” (Oates 407). Connie reminisces about the wonderful times that she had with other boys, but when it came to Arnold, Connie’s emotions are purely negative. The pressure of sex that Arnold is putting on Connie makes her uncomfortable, and Ge, Conger, and Elder explain this by saying: “These pressures (sexual) create social stresses that they (adolescents)